Nutrition

Smoothies are the perfect excuse for one of those nutritional recommendations we have as vegans, and that is that we should be consuming as many calcium rich green leafy vegetables as we can, with a recommendation of three servings per day. Unless you're overloading on salads and kale chips, some of us find smoothies the perfect helper when it comes to drinking our green leafies early in the morning. 

Smoothies are also a great excuse to get some healthy fats, omega 3 sources like chia seeds and flaxseeds, as well as a wonderful excuse to add in an additional protein source for the day.

Here are some of the nutritional boosts I love to add:

• Lots of fiber in the form of fruits and vegetables: From the antioxidants in blueberries to the iron in spinach, smoothies are a great way to add fiber, vitamins and minerals by piling on the fruits and veggies. We'll explore some yummy combinations and pairings below!
• Lots of green leafy vegetables for iron, calcium and other minerals: My top sources both for their nutrition and for their flavor are kale (both curly and dinosaur), swiss chard, spinach, collard greens and romaine lettuce. Even adding the leftover stems of broccoli (preferably from frozen which makes the taste much milder), can add so much nutrition and an extra dose of calcium and other nutrients. Another great source of calcium is adding some tahini or almond butter to your smoothie, which will also help cream it up.
• A protein source: This can be in the form of your favorite plant-based protein powder (my favorites are hemp, rice and especially pea protein), hemp seeds, spirulina or chlorella (seaweed powders that are basically nutritional powerhouses!), peanut butter and soy milk.
• Add some omega 3s: This can be in the form of chia seeds or ground flaxseeds, and many protein powders nowadays also provide sources of these essential fatty acids. 
• Add extra antioxidants: Besides all the wonderful antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables, spices are a great way to add not only a kick in the pants, but also some ninja nutrition. You only need a pinch and they can help add variety too! Some of my favorites include: turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and cayenne pepper (a little goes a long way with all of these).

Yumminess

You can have the most nutritious smoothie in the world, but if it doesn't taste delicious, you just won't drink it! Remember my motto, food is supposed to fuel your body and also bring joy to your soul! 

Make sure you're adding some delicious goodies to sweeten things up and make it delicious. Some of my favorite additions to make smoothies interesting and sweet are:

• Adding a slice of pear for instant sweetness.
• A drizzle of agave or maple syrup.
• A couple of pitted dates.
• Brewed coffee for an extra pick me up.
• Cocoa powder (always add a pinch of sea salt when using this to add even more flavor).
• Vanilla extract.
• A few grapes.
• Pitted cherries.
• A drizzle of molasses (which also provides an iron boost).
• Using rice-coconut milk (the most delicious thing ever when it comes to smoothies).
• Very sweet pineapple, especially when combined with coconut milk.

Unique and yummy smoothie pairings

You know me and my deep desire to be a name creator right? Aka, the person in charge of naming colored pencils, or the colors of fabric in clothing catalogues, naming pets and naming appliances? Yeah... I'm that kind of person. 

Keep in mind that these are just ideas of great pairings that you can add to any other veggies or fruits you're using, your favorite base, non-dairy milks, green leafy vegetables, protein, etc. These are jumping off points to then include your favorite additions and blend up your smoothie:

Add your favorite non-dairy milk, greens and additions to these yummy combinations:

• The colada : pineapple with coconut milk, coconut meat or flakes.
• The cherry garcia : pitted cherries, banana, dates, chia seeds and cocoa powder.
• The rainforest: lots of greens, cucumber, a squeeze of lemon juice, green apple and a slice of pear or your favorite sweetener.
• The tangerine dream : Tangerine, hemp hearts and peach or nectarine slices.
• The banana split: Banana, strawberries, cocoa powder and a couple of dates.
• The green goddess: Banana, lots of kale, pineapple.
• The coffee addict: brewed coffee, cherries or mixed berries, vanilla extract and agave or maple syrup.
• The crazy kiwi: Romaine lettuce, kiwi, green grapes.
• Under the sea: Kale, spirulina, banana, dates and berries.
• The blue lagoon: Blueberries, blackberries, spinach, a bit of spirulina or chlorella, your favorite sweetener.
• The monkey: Hemp hearts, banana, mango, frozen broccoli stems, dates or your favorite sweetener.
• The apple strudel: oats, apple or unsweetened apple sauce, dates, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• The pb and j: Peanut butter, strawberries, banana and vanilla extract.
• The ladies who lunch: carrot juice, orange or tangerine, ginger, dates.
• The pink flamingo: watermelon, cucumber, grapes, fresh mint and a squeeze of lemon.
• The tropical paradise: banana, kale, papaya and a squeeze of lemon or lime. Green grapes, dates or your favorite sweetener if needed.
• The summer cool down: Romaine lettuce, cucumber, lemon, ginger, green apple, some green grapes and fresh mint.
• The Japan-easy: banana, pineapple, your favorite greens, matcha green tea powder.
• The 1950s milkshake: Banana, cocoa powder, protein powder, rice-coconut milk, spinach and strawberries.

These are just some ideas of flavors that go really great together. To these you can add your favorite non-dairy milks, additional fruits and veggies, a sweetener to make it to your liking, protein powders, seeds, etc. Make them your own.

Our Smoothie Printable

If you're inspired and want to start creating your own variations, we've created a yummy pdf printable with all of these categories and even more options, so you can mix and match and have it right in your kitchen for easy access. It's one of the printables in our FREE breakfast and brunch classics course, which you can sign up for below!

Do you have any favorites when it comes to smoothie pairings? Leave them in the comments below!